§ 80. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the incidence of tuberculosis and leprosy, respectively, for the years 1955 and 1956 in Hong Kong; and what steps are being taken by the Government of Hong Kong to prevent and cure these diseases.
§ Mr. Profumo14,148 cases of tuberculosis were notified in 1955 and 12,155 in 1956, 762 new cases of leprosy became known in 1955 and 751 in 1956. The steps taken to prevent tuberculosis include vaccination, X-ray surveys, the examination of those in contact with tubercular cases, and health education and social assistance by tuberculosis visitors. 33W Treatment of tubercular patients during 1955 included 360,000 attendances at Government clinics.
Lepers are rendered non-infective as quickly as possible and all children born to lepers or in contact with them are vaccinated. Attendances at leprosy clinics totalled 22,012 in 1955 and 25,789 in 1956. There are now nine clinics for leprosy patients and a leprosarium holding 500.